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Ultimatum to move the dolphins and new decree banning mammal imports

The Governor of The Red Sea has issued an ultimatum to the owner of the four bottlenose dolphins that were imported to Hurghada on the 15th of August from Japan and have been in appalling conditions ever since, to be moved to a location compliant to national and international standards within 48 hours. Moreover the Governor has issued a decree to ban the import of any mammal into the Red Sea, with the exception of those born in captivity. This is great news for conservation and an important milestone for our local government as we are not only legislating for local conservation but we have become part of global conservation efforts! These important achievements are the result of the mobilization of the local community and their outcry against the deplorable conditions the four dolphins have been subjected to. This decree is a clear demonstration of how community participation is the key to conservation. The path to this achievement was filled on one hand with obstacles and on the other hand with individuals that have committed and dedicated themselves, their time, efforts and expertise to resolve this disgraceful situation. The last few days were filled with suspense and startling events. Upon the recommendation of the Whale and Dolphin Conservation Society and Marine Connection, HEPCA commissioned Dr. Pierre Gallego to provide his abundant experience with captive cetaceans in order to offer the dolphins the best possible care. Dr. Gallego visited the proposed location at Sahl Hasheesh along with a team from HEPCA; water samples were collected for laboratory analysis and some onsite measurements were conducted. The analysis confirmed that the lagoon might have been suitable. Ric O’Barry seconded this conclusion. Dr. Gallego was given access to the dolphins and to their logbooks but he was unable to perform a full visual examination due to the high turbidity in the pool. In order for him to provide proper diagnosis of their conditions, blood analysis was recommended to assess the risks to the dolphins themselves and humans. It was scheduled for the morning of Wednesday 29th. HEPCA insured that the required medical equipment had been made available and arrangements were made with a medical laboratory in order for them to calibrate their apparatus for cetaceans. However, upon their arrival at the “owner’s” villa, the HEPCA team led by Dr. Gallego, were surprised to discover that the entrance to the villa was blocked off by hired thugs, who only allowed Dr. Gallego onto the premises, leaving him without an assistant. The “owner’s” staff was unable to get the dolphins out of the water for the examination and blood sampling, further proving the unacceptable conditions the dolphins have to withstand. The remainder of the sampling team, which is made up of two marine biologists working on HEPCA’s cetacean research project, were surrounded in the car they were in by some of the thugs, who even attempted to enter the vehicle: the team was harassed and threatened with violence! A second HEPCA team along with Ric O’Barry attempted to inspect a pool that the “owner” is constructing and stated he would have the dolphins moved in. The team was also treated with aggression and threatened with a bulldozer that began dumping sand a few meters upwind of the team and the truck in order to stop them from being able to see the pool. The team headed to the villa to show Ric O’Barry the location that the dolphins were being held at. They were also harassed by the hired thugs in the street: they tried to steal and destroy the camera the team had, and they opened the vehicle door and attempted to unleash a guard dog into it. HEPCA has begun taking legal actions against the “owner” and his hired thugs for their attack on HEPCA staff and on the HEPCA vehicles and equipment which are considered to be public property. The new location that the “owner” is preparing was properly inspected on the 30th of September, by Dr. Gallego, HEPCA’s chief scientist Dr. Mahmoud Hanafy, and a governmental committee composed of representatives from the City Council’s Environmental Office, the Governorate’s Environmental Department, the Egyptian Environmental Affairs Agency, and the Red Sea Rangers. They concluded that the new location is up to the required standards. The “owner’s” representatives pledged that the dolphins would be moved by Sunday. Although we are all ecstatic that the dolphins shall be relieved from the strenuous conditions they have been suffering under for the last six weeks, the construction of a pool of this size and specifications means the establishment of a dolphinarium in the Red Sea Governorate. The permanent presence of captive dolphins is an issue that HEPCA and all those who have battled for the preservation of the natural environment have fought against for decades, and would be a massive step back in Egyptian conservation efforts. We therefore call upon the Red Sea community, the Chambers of Diving and Tourism, hotels, diving centres, tour operators and tourists to condemn the dolphinarium industry and boycott all dolphinaria, here in the Red Sea and across the globe. We invite to join us on Sunday evening at 7:30pm at the New Marina where Ric O’Barry will present his Oscar Award winning documentary: The Cove.